A week-long activity to call for public care and protection of birds has been scheduled for March 20-26 in southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, one of the country's major avian habitats.

Local forest administration departments have held similar events for 22 years in Guangxi, which is home to 520 species of bird and 42.8 percent of birds in China, and is also situated on the route for migratory birds flying in winter to Southeast Asian countries and Australia.

In the run-up to "love birds week", a ceremony was held recently in Beihai, a port city in Guangxi, to build up the momentum of the activity, amid rampant bird hunting in the region, especially on the outskirts of Beihai.

Attendees of the ceremony, more than 1,000 people, echoed the view that SARS and bird flu outbreaks have made the public realize the fact that good treatment of animals benefits human beings.

Events similar to the "love birds week" have increased the public's awareness of protecting birds, but bird hunting for fun and food is still a serious problem in the country.

In the Guantouling State Forest Park in the suburbs of Beihai, shooting of birds occurs every day, even during the migratory period.

To show his resolve to protect birds, a chef vowed not to cook any birds for guests at the ceremony held in downtown Beihai.

An exhibition of bird hunting guns and nets seized from hunters was also staged at the ceremony.

(Xinhua News Agency March 17, 2004)